North Port Police were alerted to Elliot Christopher Bullard, 37, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after he allegedly distributed some of the pornography on the Internet.

A school district spokesman said that the material Bullard had did not appear to involve students at the school on Huntsville Avenue in North Port.

Bullard — an informational technology specialist at the school who had no teaching responsibilities — was arrested by North Port Police detectives on Friday at his home in the 2600 block of Vedado Street.

He faces eight counts of possession of child pornography and one count of transmitting child pornography.

He has been put on administrative leave and will not get paid because he is an hourly employee, Sarasota school officials said Tuesday.

Records at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show this is Bullard's first arrest in this state.

Bullard was hired by the school district in 2005 and his current salary is $29,718.

Atwater Principal Kirk Hutchinson could not be reached for comment Monday.

School District spokesman Scott Ferguson said that law enforcement is handling the investigation and that district officials are not privy to many of the details at this points.

<p><em>NORTH PORT</em> - UPDATE: A computer specialist at Atwater Elementary School has been charged with nine counts of possessing and transmitting child pornography.</p><p>North Port Police were alerted to Elliot Christopher Bullard, 37, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after he allegedly distributed some of the pornography on the Internet.</p><p>A school district spokesman said that the material Bullard had did not appear to involve students at the school on Huntsville Avenue in North Port.</p><p>Bullard — an informational technology specialist at the school who had no teaching responsibilities — was arrested by North Port Police detectives on Friday at his home in the 2600 block of Vedado Street.</p><p>He faces eight counts of possession of child pornography and one count of transmitting child pornography.</p><p>He has been put on administrative leave and will not get paid because he is an hourly employee, Sarasota school officials said Tuesday.</p><p>Records at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show this is Bullard's first arrest in this state.</p><p>Bullard was hired by the school district in 2005 and his current salary is $29,718.</p><p>Atwater Principal Kirk Hutchinson could not be reached for comment Monday.</p><p>School District spokesman Scott Ferguson said that law enforcement is handling the investigation and that district officials are not privy to many of the details at this points.</p><p>“What we're doing — as always — is collaborating with law enforcement,” Ferguson said.</p><p>North Port Police Capt. Anthony Sirianni said the investigation is in its initial stages and that investigators are only now conducting a forensic analysis of Bullard's computer.</p><p>Bullard was responsible for maintaining the school's computers.</p><p>Asked about Bullard's interactions with students, Gary Leatherman said, “I would imagine he had casual interactions, in classrooms.”</p><p>Bullard is being held in the Sarasota County Jail, facing $90,000 bail. Additional charges may be pending, police said.</p><p>His employment status will be determined at a later date, Leatherman said.</p><p>“If and when he's released, he will be put on administrative leave or terminated,” Leatherman said. “Of course, he is entitled to due process.”</p><p><i>Staff writer Gabrielle Russon contributed to this story.</i></p>